Aortic valve stenosis

Aortic stenosis means your aortic valve has a problem opening. The left ventricle has to work harder to push the blood through the valve. In some cases, this extra work will make the muscle of the ventricle thicken. In time, the extra work can tire the heart and cause the heart muscle to weaken. Stenosis usually get worse slowly, over many years. But sometimes it can quickly get worse.

Possible causes

Calcium deposits can form on the aortic valve as you get older. These deposits make the valve stiff and hard to open. In some cases, you may have been born with an abnormal aortic valve. Or your aortic valve may have been damaged by rheumatic fever or a heart infection.

Treating aortic stenosis

In many cases, treatment won’t be needed unless you have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, medicines may help relieve them. If the stenosis is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery to replace the valve, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Providence Health & Services in Oregon is a not-for-profit Catholic network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health care and affiliated services guided by a Mission of caring that the Sisters of Providence began in the West nearly 160 years ago.